Rotary-disk boring-drill.



H. R. HUGHES.

ROTARY DISK BORING DRILL.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 19. 1914.

1, 143,27&. Patented June 15, 1915.

a 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

UNITED STATES PATENT orrron HOWARD R. HUGHES, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS,ASSIGNOB. TO SHARP-HUGHES TOOL COMPANY, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, A CORPORATIONOF TEXAS.

ROTARY-DISK BORING-DRILL.

' Specification of Letters Patent. 4 Patented J une 15 1915 Applicationfiled March 19, 1914. Serial No. 825,797.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HOWARD R. finance, acitizen of the United States, residing at Houston, Texas, have inventeda certain new and useful Improvement in Rotary- Disk Boring-Drills, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same.

This invention relates to rotary disk boring drills of the ty eillustrated in my pending application erial No. 7 98,654, filed November1, 1913, and has for one of its ob 'jects to provide novel means forsecurely locking in the head the spindles on which the cutters arerotatably mounted.

Another object is to provide a rotary disk drill in which the head isequipped with a plurality of sharp-edged cutters that have cuttingsurfaces which lie between the sharp edges of the cutters and thevertical axis of the drill head so as to destroy the core at the centerof the bottom of the hole which lies inside of the zone described on thebottom of the hole by the sharp edges of the cutters.

Other objects and desirable features of my invention will be hereinafterpointed out.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a side elevational view, partly in verticalsection, of a rotary disk boring drill constructed in accordance with myinvention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of same; Fig. 3 is a sideelevational view of a portion of one form of locking-pin that may beused for locking the cutter spindles in the head; Fig. 4: is a similarView of another form of locking-pin that may be used for this purpose;Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4; Fig.6 is a side elevational view, partly broken away, of another form of myinvention; and Fig. 7 is a perspective view of still another form.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate the preferred form of myinvention, A designates the head of the drill which preferably consistsof a block of metal provided at its upper end with an internallyscrewthreaded socket into which the lower end of the drill stem B isscrewed. A second internally screw-threaded socket of smaller diameteris preferably formed in the head to receive a lubricanteholder C thatcontains a lubricant which is supplied to the bearings for the cuttersof the drill.

The drill herein shown is provided with two substantially disk-shapedcutters D preferably of the design illustrated and described in mypending application Serial No. 820,670, filed Feb. 24, 1914:, each ofsaid cutters having a sharp cutting edge 1 that shears oif the materialfrom the side of the hole when the drill is in operation and a crushingsurface 2 that lies beyond said outtlng edge so as to crush anddisintegrate the material at the bottom of the hole.

On the inner side of the cutter is a cylindrical cutting surface 3 ofless diameter than the sharp edge 1 of the cutter which lieslntermediate said sharp edge and the vertical center or axis of thedrill head so that it w1ll destroy the core at the center of the holewhich lies inside of the zone described on the bottom of the hole by thesharp edge of the cutter.

The reduced portion 3 of the cutter can be provided with any suitablekind of cutting surface, that herein shown consisting of a cutting tooth3 that extends spirally around the portion 3 of the cutter, as shown inFig. 1.

The cutters D are inclined in such a manner that the lower portions ofsame converge toward the longitudinal axis or center of the drill head,as shown in Fig. 1, and

said cutters are ofiset slightly or set a trifle to one side of thecenter of the head, as shown in Fig. 2, so that the rear sides or edgeportions of same will not drag against the side of the hole, indicatedby the circle a: in Fig. 2, when the drill is in operation.

Pockets 4 are preferably formed in the sides of the head, as shown inFig. 1, so that portions of the head will project laterally over thecutters and thus prevent the sharp edges of the cutters from catching onprojections in the hole when the drill is being removed from the hole.

In the preferred form of my invention as herein shown, the cutters D arerotatably mounted on spindles 5 that have threaded portions 5 which arescrewed into the head A of the drill, said spindles projecting laterallyand downwardly from the head, and being oflt'set slightly or set atrifle to one side of the longitudinal axis of the head, as shown inFig. 2.

One feature of my present invention consists in means of novelconstruction for locking the spindles 5 in the head of the drill, and inthe preferred embodiment of my invention, as herein shown, said meansconsists of a center locking-pin E in the head and a tapered memberactuated by said pin that exerts pressure on the inner end portions ofthe spindles 5 was to bind tightly between the inner ends of the spineor screwed downwardly.

dles 5 when the locking-pin E is tightened This wedge or tapered memberE can either consist of a separate part as shown in Figs. 6 and 7against which the lower end of the lockingpin E bears, or the wedge canbe formed integral with the locking-pin or connected to same by afastening device.

In the form shownin Fig. 3 the wedge or tapered member 7 is formedintegral with the locking-pin, and consists of a frustoconical-shapedportion on the lower end of the locking-pin, the outer surface of thewedge either being smooth or'provided with corrugations or projectionssuch, for er:- ample, as a screw-thread 7, as shown 1n Fi 1.

I n the form shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the wedge 7 is a separate member orpart that is pivotally connected to the locking-pin E by means of apintle 8 that passes transversely through a bifurcated portion of thelocking-pin that embraces a shank or ear 8 on the upper end of thewedge, thus permitting the wedge to swing transversely in one directionand assume an angular position with relation to the locking-pin. I alsoprefer to connect the wedge to the'lockingpin in such a manner thatthere is sufiicient play and lost motion between said parts to permitthe wedge to' swing laterally slightly in the opposite direction. Theadvantageof connecting the wedge to the locking-pin in this manner, orinsuch a way that it can assume an angular position with relation to thelocking-pin, is that both spindles 5 will be securely locked in thehead, even though one spindle is longer than the other or projectsfarther toward the longitudinal center of the head. This same result canbe accomplished by the locking-pin E illustrated in Fig. 1 in view ofthe fact that the projections or spiral teeth 7 on the wedge will cutinto the inner end of the longer spindle when the locking-pin istightened.

At the upper end of the locking-pin is a non-circular-shaped portion 9that is adaptout of operative position. The locking-pin,

E projects upwardly into the lubricant holder 0, and a duct 10 ispreferably formed in said pin so as to permit the lubricant to flowthrough same to distributing lubricant ducts 11 in the spindles 5 thatsupply the lubricating medium to the bearings on which the cutters Drotate.

When the drill is provided with cutters D of the particular form hereinshown, namely, cutters provided on their inner sides with reducedportions that destroy the core at the center of the hole, bushings F ofbronze or other. suitable material, are preferably mounted on thespindles 5 so as to provide an exceptionally large bearing area for eachcutter, each of said bushings having a relatively largecylindrical-shaped bearing portion 12 that surrounds a boss or flange 13on the head of the drill through which the spindle 5 passes. Byconstructing the drill in this manner I am able to use spindles thathave comparatively long threaded portions that are surrounded by solidmetal in the head, thus producing an exceptionally strong andserviceable drill; and another desirable feature of such a .drill isthat the cutters out very close to the .center of the hole and thusleave only a small core which will be crushed and disintegrated finelyby the reduced portions 3 on the inner sides of the cutters.

The crushing surfaces 2 of the cutters can either be plain or toothed,and the reduced portions 3 of the cutters can be provided with anypreferred type of cutting surface.

While I prefer to equip the drill withcutters of the particular typeherein shown, namely, cutters having reduced portions on their innersides that destroy the core, I wish it to be understood that myinvention is not limited to a drill of this particular construction forone feature of my invention consists in providing the head of the drillwith a device that is adapted to be forced into engagement with thecuttersupporting spindles so as to securely bind and lock said spindlesin the head,.irrespective of the particular type of cutters the spindlesare provided with.

The water that is forced down through the drill stem to flush out thedisintegrated material is preferably discharged from the ter-holes 15.The center Water-holes 14 discharge jets of water at points in advanceof the cutters and toward the center of'the hole, and the two sidewater-holes 15 discharge jets of water downwardly onto thecutters towardthe side wall of the hole and at points adjacent the rear edges of thecutters. Consequently, there is very little tendency for thedisintegrated material to pack in the hole or cling to the cutters forthe flushing water keeps the cutters clean and flushes out thedisintegrated material that is removed from the side of the hole by thesharp edges of the cutters.

In operation, the sharp edges of the cutters D shear off the materialfrom the side of the hole, and remain sharp by constantly rubbingagainst the side of the hole, and the portions 2 of the cutters crushand disintegrate the material at the bottom of the hole that liesoutside of the point where the sharp edges of the cutters dig into thebottom of the hole, the crushing surfaces 2 of the cutters being soshaped that the bottom of the hole is of such form that there is littletendency for the drill to wabble in the hole. The small core thatremains at the center of the bottom of the hole or which lies inside ofthe zone described on the bottom of the hole by the sharp edges of thecutters," is crushed and ground up progressively by the reduced portions3 of the cutters which lie between the sharp edges of the cutters andthe vertical axis or center of the drill head. The shearing strains onthe spindles 5 are reduced to a minimum owing to the inclined positionof said spindles and to the shape of the cutters D which are of suchform that the weight imposed on the drill head tends to force thecutters inwardly against thrustbearing surfaces on the bushings F. Thedrill comprises only a few rugged parts which are strong enough tosuccessfully withstand the enormous strains which the drill is subjectedto when the drill is in service; the cutters are so designed and aremounted on the head in such a manner that they do not drag against theside of the hole when the drill is in operation, and consequently willnot wear out quickly; and the cutter-supporting spindles are so securelylocked in the head that it is practically impossible for them to workloose and thus permit the cutters to become detached from the head.

' In Fig. 6 I have illustrated another modification of my inventionwherein the wedge or tapered member 7 is provided with longitudinallyextending teeth or corrugations 7 that bite into the inner ends of thespindles on which the cutters are mounted. The center locking-pin E isscrewed into the head so that the lower end of same will bear upon theupper end of the wedge 7 and thus force said wedge tightly against thespindles when the locking-pin E is tightened. A coupling-pin 17' thatextends longitudinally through the wedge 7 and through the locking-pin Eis provided at its upper and lower ends with heads 17 so as to connectthe wedge and locking-pin together and cause the wedge to be withdrawnfrom engagement with the spindles when the locking-pin E is loosened. Ifdesired, the coupling-pin 17 could be screwed into the wedge and theupperend of said coupling-pin formed plain or not provided with a headso as to permit the lockingpin E to be inserted and removedindependently of the wedge, the wedge being inserted prior to theintroduction of the locking-pin and removed after the locking-pin hasbeen taken out of the head A of the drill, such a construction beingshown in Fig. 7, or, if desired, the coupling-pin could be provided atits lower end with a head 17, as shown in Fig. 6, and a hole could beformed in the upper end of said coupling-pin as shown in Fig. 7 so as topermit a hook-shaped tool or instrument to be inserted in said hole towithdraw the some suitable manner so as to enable said wedge to bepositionedv properly and removed, and the center locking-pin E isscrewed into the head A of the drill and is provided with alongitudinally-extending bore through which the positioning pin 17passes, the lower end of the pin 17 being preferably screwed into thewedge 7 and the upper end of said pin 17 being provided with a hole 17for receiving a hook-shaped tool or instrument so as to facilitate theremoval of the wedge. In this form of my invention the wedge 7 is firstpositioned and thereafter the center locking-pin E is screwed into thehead A of the drillso as to forcethe wedge 7 tightly against the innerends of the spindles.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by LettersPatent is:

-1. In a rotary boring drill, a head, a plurality of spindles screwedinto said head and provided with rotatable cutters, and a single lockingdevice on the head that is adapted to be forced against the inner endsof said spindles so as to bind the spindles tightly in the head and thusprevents them from working loose.

2. A rotary boring drill provided with a head, a cutter-supportingspindle screwed into the head, and an adjustable locking device carriedby the head and arranged adjacent the inner end of the spindle at anangle to the direction the spindle extends, said locking device beingadapted to be forced tightly against the inner end of the spindle so asto securely bind the spindle 1n 5 the head and prevent it from workingloose.

3. A rotary boring drill provided with a head, a cutter-supportingspindle screwed into said head, and an adjustable locking 1 devicearranged in the head at approximately right angles to the spindle andadapted to be pressed tightly against the inner end of the spindle so asto cause the cooperating screw threads on the spindle I 5 and head tobind and thus prevent the.

' spindle from working loose.

4. A rotary boring drill compr'sing a head, a cutter-supporting spindlescrewed into said head, and an adjustable locking wedge carried by saidhead that bears against the inner end of said spindle and thus binds itsecurely'and prevents it from working loose. a

5. A rotary boring drill comprising a head, a cutter-supporting spindlescrewed into said head, a Wedge carried by the head and arranged at anangle to said spindle so that it will bear against the inner end of saidspindle, and means for forcing said wedge tightly against the spindle.

6. A rotary boring drill comprising a head, a cutter-supporting spindlescrewed into said head, a. screw-threaded lockingpin in said head, and atapered device actuated by said lockingpin that bears against the innerend of said spindle and thus securely looks it in the head.

7. A rotary boring drill comprising a head, a plurality'ofcutter-supporting spin- 40 dles that project outwardly from the centeraxis of the head, and a single locking device in the head that isadapted to be forced into engagement with the inner ends of saidspindles so as to bind them in the head.

8. A rotary boring drill comprising a head, a plurality of spindlesscrewed into said head and projecting outwardly from the longitudinalaxis of same, and a locking wedge in the head that is adapted to beforced into engagement with the inner ends of said spindles so as tobind them in the head.

9. A rotary boring drillcomprising a head, a plurality ofcutter-supporting spindles projecting outwardly'from the longitudinalaxis of the head, a tapered locking device at the center ofthe head thatis interposed between the inner ends of said spindles, and means forforcing said device tightly-between said spindles.

10. A rotary boring drill provided with a 7 head, an inclinedcutter-supporting spindle screwed into the head, and a locking devicecomprising a wedge that is adapted to be forced into engagement with theinner end of the spindle so as to exert pressure on the spindle in adirection parallel to its length and. thus bind the spindle so securelyin the head that-it cannot unscrew or work lo0se..

11. A rotary boring drill comprising a head, inclined cutter-supportingspindles that project outwardly from the longitudinal center of thehead, and an adjustable. locking device in the head comprising a wedgethat is interposed between the inner ends 'of said spindles and thusexerts sufficient pressure on same to prevent the spindles from workingloose.

12. A rotary boring drill comprising a head, a plurality of inclinedspindles screwed into the head and projecting outwardly from the centerof thehead, -a' locking-pin screwed into the head, and a tapered memberadapted to be forced'by said pin tiilghtly against the inner ends ofsaid spin- 13. A rotar boring drill comprising a head, a plura ity ofdownwardly inclined spindles that are screwed into the head and whichproject outwardly from the center of the head, a locking-wedge thatpresses against the inner ends of said spindles, and an actuating devicefor said wedge that is screwed into the head.

14. A rotalziy boring drill oomp-risin a head, incline cutter-supportingspindles screwed into said head, and projecting outwardly therefrom, alocking-pin having a screw-threaded portion arranged in an internallyscrew threaded bore in the head,

and a tapered member actuated by said pin that presses against the innerends of said spindles and thus securely binds them in the head when saidpin is tightened.

15. A rotary boring drill comprising a headprovided with a center bore,inclined cutter-supporting spindles screwed into said head and havingtheir inner ends projecting into said bore, a locking-pin in said bore,and a tapered member actuated by said pin that becomes wedged tightlybetween the inner endsof said-spindles when said pin is turned in onedirection.

16. A rotary boring drill comprising a head providedwith a center bore,inclined cutter-supporting spindles screwed into said head and havingtheir inner ends projecting into said bore, a tapered member interposed7 between the inner ends of said spindles and pressing against same, anda locking-pin in said bore that actuates said tapered member andprovided at its upper end with means for enabling itto be turned.

17. A rotary boring drill comprising a head, inclined cutter-supportingspindles screwed into said head and projecting outwardly from the centerof the head, a wedge that. engages the inner ends of said spindles andthus binds them in the head, and an actuating device for said wedgevconnected 130 i nected' to therwedge.

that presses against the inner ends of said spindles and thus binds themin the head, and an actuating device .for said wedge screwed; inter-the.head. and; votally con It). A rotarycboring drill comprising a I headprovided with a. center bore that has an internally screw-threadedportion, inclined cutter-supporting spindles screwed into the head andhaving their inner ends projecting into said bore, a locking-pin screwedinto said bore, and an approximately frusto-conical-shaped memberactuated by said pin that becomes wedged tightly against the inner endsof said spindles when said pin is tightened.

20. A rotary boring drill comprising a head provided with .a center borethat has an internally screw-threaded portion, inclinedcutter-supporting spindles screwed into the head and having their innerends projecting into said bore, a locking-pin screwed into said bore,and a substantially frusto-conical-shaped wedge pivotally con nected tosaid pin, and arranged between the inner ends of said spindles so thatit will securely bind the spindles in the head when said pin istightened.

21. A rotary boring drill comprising a head provided with alubricant-holder, cutter-supporting spindles screwed into said head andprovided with lubricating ducts, and a locking-pin for said spindlesprovided with a lubricating duct for conducting the lubricating mediumfrom said holder to the ducts in said spindles.

22. A rotary boring drill comprising a head provided with alubricant-holder, cutter-supporting spindles in said head provided withlubricating ducts, and a locking device for said spindles projectingupwardly into said lubricant-holder and provided with a duct whichsupplies the lubricant to the ducts in said spindles.

23. A rotary boring drill comprising a head provided with an internallyscrewthreaded socket for receiving a drill stem, a lubricant-holder onsaid head projecting upwardly into said drill stem, downwardly inclinedcutter-supporting spindles screwed into said head and projectingoutwardly from the center thereof, a locking-pin screwed into the head,and a tapered member actuated by said pin that bears against the innerends of said spindles, said pin and spindles having lubricating ductsfor receiving the lubricating medium in said holder.

24. A rotary boring drill comprising a head provided with sharp-edgeddisk-shaped cutters that are inclined in such a manner that the lowerportions of same converge toward the longitudinal axis of the head,spindles for said cutters screwed into thehead, and an adjustabletapered locking device in said head that bears against the inner ends ofsaid spindles and thus prevents them from working loose.

head,'a plurality of sharp-edged rotatable cutters arranged on said'headin such a manner that the lower portions of same converge toward thelongitudinal axis of the head, said cutters being so mounted that theforward edges of same rub against the side of the hole, supportingspindles for said cutters screwed into the head, and a single lockingdevice for said spindles mounted in the head and bearing against theinner ends of same so as to bind them in the head.

26. A rotary boring drill consisting of a head provided with a pluralityof sharpedged cutters arranged in such a manner that they shear off thematerial at the side of the hole and dig into the bottom of the hole,reduced cutting portions on the inner sides of said cutters that destroythe core at the center of the holewhich lies inside of the zonedescribed on the bottom of the. hole by the sharp edges of said cutters,supporting spindles for said cutters screwed into the head, and alocking device on the head that is wedged between the inner ends of saidspindles and thus prevents them from working loose.

27 A rotary boring drill consisting of a head, and sharp-edgeddisk-shaped cutters rotatably mounted-on said head and provided on theirinner sides with reduced cutting portions that destroy the core at thecenter of the hole, said cutters being inclined in such a manner thatthe lower portions of same converge toward the longitudinal axis of thehead.

28. A rotary boring drill provided with a sharp-edged rotatable cutterarranged in such a manner that the forward edge of same shears off thematerial from the side of the hole and the lower portion of samedisintegrates the material at the bottom of the hole, and means forintroducing jets of flushing water at a point in advance of the cutterand toward the center of the hole and also downwardly toward the sidewall of the hole at a point adjacent the rear edge portion of thecutter.

29. A rotary boring drill provided with a sharp-edged rotatable cutterarranged in such a manner that the lower portion of same inclinesinwardly toward the vertical axis of the head of the drill, the forwardedge of said cutter shearing olf the material from the side of the holeand the lower por- 25. A rotary boring. drill: comprisingia' tionof-same disinte rating the material at the bottom of the ho e, and meansfor introducing a jet of flushing water downwardly onto said cutter andalso laterally away from the cutter and toward the side wall of the holeso as to prevent the disintegrated material from clinging to the cutteror from becoming packed in the hole around said cutter. V

'30. A rotary boring drill provided with approximately disk-shapedcutters that are inclined in such a manner that the lower portions ofsame converge toward the longitudinal axis of the drill, and means forintroducing jets of water downwardly toward the ,bottom of the hole atpoints in advance of said cutters and also downwardly and laterally ontosaid cutters and toward the sid wall of the hole.

31. A rotary boring drill comprising a head, sharp-edged cuttersrotatably mounted on said head in an inclined position so that the lowerportions of same converge toward the longitudinal axis of the drillhead, center Water-holes in the head which discharge ets of water atpoints between the cutters, and side water-holes formed in the head atsuch a downwardly inclined angle to the vertical axis of the head thatjets of water will be discharged downwardly toward the side wall of thehole. 7

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses, this tenth day of March 1914.

HOWARD R. HUGHES. Witnesses:

E. E. WRIGHT, W. E. RATLIFFE.

